Nethinim (נְתִינִיםnəṯīnīm, lit. "given ones", or "subjects"), orNathinites orNathineans, was the name given to theTemple assistants in ancientJerusalem. The term was applied originally in theBook of Joshua (where it is found in its verbal form) to theGibeonites.[1][a] Later, in theBook of Ezra, they are counted alongside theAvdei Shlomo ("Servants of Solomon"). It is likely that the Nethinim descended from non-Israelites.[2] Opinion is divided as to whether the Gibeonites in Joshua are to be connected to the Nethinim of later texts.[3] Others theorize that they were the descendants ofMidianite war captives, as described inNumbers 31.[4]
Netinim is derived from theCanaanite verbN-T-N, "to give."[5] The noun form occurs 18 times in theMasoretic Text of the Hebrew Bible, always in the plural (1 Chr. 9:2;Ezra 2:43,58,70; 7:7,24; 8:17,20;Neh. 3:26,31; 7:46,60,73; 10:28; 11:3,21).[6][b]
In English,Nethinim is one of several Hebrew words which aretransliterated rather thantranslated in theKing James Version (1611). It is also the most common academic spelling. The formNathinites is found in theDouay-Rheims Version and consequently in theCatholic Encyclopedia (1911) article "Nathinites".[7]
In Greek, theSeptuagint transliteratesNethinim as οἱ Ναθιναῖοι,hoi Nathinaioi[8] (Ezra 2:43; Neh 11:3), and as Ναθινιν (Ezra 2:58); and on one occasion, translated into Greek as οἱ δεδομένοιhoi dedoménoi, "the given ones" (1 Chron 9:2).Josephus renders the term as ἰερόδουλοιierodouloi "temple servants".[9] TheVulgate hasLatin:Nathinæi. In Syriac thePeshitta follows the Hebrew, except that1 Chronicles 9 rendersnetinim with Syriacgeyora pl., equivalent of Hebrewgerim.[10]
In the Book of Joshua, the Nethinim are mentioned in a passage concerning the "leaders (nesi'im)[11] of the congregation", a term also utilized in the ruling assembling of post-exilicYehud Medinata. The passage has been read as one that confers legitimacy on this class, or, alternatively, criticizing them for acting autonomously. In the latter regard, it is contended that the author of Joshua blames these leaders, independently of the priesthood, for inducting theGibeonites into cultic service in Jerusalem.[12] In Talmudic tradition,[13] they became associated with the Nethinim.[1]
The Nethinim are mentioned at the return from theExile and particularly enumerated inEzra 2 andNeh 7. The original form of the name wasNethunim, as in theketiv (consonantal reading) ofEzra 8:17 (cf.Numbers 3:9), and means "given" or "dedicated," i.e., to the temple. TheTalmud also uses the singular formNathin. In all, 612 Nethinim came back from the Exile and were lodged near the "House of the Nethinim" at Ophel, towards the east wall of Jerusalem so as to be near the Temple, where they served under theLevites and were free of all tolls, from which they must have been supported. They are ordered by David and the princes to serve the Levites (Ezra 8:20).[14] The men of Gibeon, with Melatiah the Gibeonite at their head, repaired a piece of the wall of Jerusalem near the old gate on the west side of the city (Neh. iii. 7), while the Nethinim dwelt at Ophel on the east side (ib. 26).
Many of the names enumerated inEzra 2 for the Nethinim appear to indicate a foreign provenance, including people of Arab, Ishmaelite, Egyptian, Edomite and Aramaic ethnicities, with nicknames appropriate to slaves.[15][c] Most of the names of the parents mentioned seem to be feminine in form or meaning, and suggest that the Nethinim could not trace back to any definite paternity; and this is supported by the enumeration of those who could not "show their father's house" (Ezra 2:60;Neh 7:62).[14]
At the time of Nehemiah and Ezra, they were fully integrated into the Judean community, and were signatories to the former's covenant. Several centuries later, their status had declined rapidly.[16] In the 10 genealogical classes (yuhasin) set forth in theMishnah, they are ranked aboveshetukim (people of whose paternity is unknown) andassufim (foundlings)[17] but beneathmamzerim, the offspring of illicit unions, and were prohibited from marrying Israellites of good standing,[16] though intermarriage between the last four classes, which included freed slaves,[18] was permitted.[19] A child of such illicit unions was defined as anatin.[20] Whereas the Biblical prohibitions against intermarriage with theMoabites,Ammonites,Egyptians andEdomites only applied for a certain number of generations or did not apply at all to their daughters, the ban on marriage with Mamzerim and Nethinim was deemed "perpetual and applies both to males and females".[21]
Jehovah's Witnesses use the termNethinim to refer to members not claiming to be"anointed" who are selected to assist theGoverning Body.[22][23]
Executive Committee of the Editorial Board; Jacobs, Joseph (1905)."Nethinim". InSinger, Isidore; et al. (eds.).The Jewish Encyclopedia. Vol. 9. New York: Funk & Wagnalls. p. 233.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Jacobs, Joseph (1911). "Nethinim". InChisholm, Hugh (ed.).Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 19 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 421.Authority control databases: National |
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